Collapsible archform for brickkilns



Jul 8, 1924. 1,500,949

G. E. LUCE COLLAPSIBLB ARGHFORM FOR BRICKKILNS Filed April 5, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 swwxi ///////w Jui s, 1924. 1,500,949

' G. E. LUCE COLLAPSIBLE ARCHFORM FOR BRICKKILNS Filed April 5, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 G. E. LUCE COLLAPSIBLE ARCHFORM FOR BRICKKILNS July 8 1924. I 1,500,949

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 iled 1 7119" 4.

July 8, 1924. 1,500,949

G. E. LUCE COLLAPSIBLE ARCHFORM FOR BfiICKKILNS Filed April 5, 1923 6 Sheets-Shet' g 36 417 ms M 12 5 vie, Q? 4 ,500,949. G- E. LUCE CUI-IILAPSIBLE ARCHFORM FOR BRICKKILNS Filed April 5, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 1 5 9.6. 153g Z fwven? Patented July 8, 1924,

GRAFTON E. Luon, or orncaco, rnLInoI's.

COLLAPSIIBLE 'ABCHFORIVI FOR BRICKKILNS. i

- Application filed April 5,

T all whom it may concern: Y 7

Be it known that I, GRAFTON E. Loon, a cltizen of the United States, and a resident of C'hicago,-in the countyof Cook and State a of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Collapsible Archforms for Brickkilns, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is av specification, like letters on the drawings 10 representing like parts.

My present invention is aform adapted for use in the building of the firing arches in brick kilns, and is mademovable or 001-.

lapsible to facilitate wetting up, removal, and successive use.

In the building of brick kilns, as hereto-v fore practiced, it has been customary to set the firing arches, particularly the top courses, closing the top of the arch by hand, and Without anyother ruling or guidance than the eye of the'worker. This work being on the inner faces of the arch, especially in theoperation of building the second or closing half of the arch, it has been considered impossible to use any guide, rule, form or other aid to the eye of the worker. I As these arches extend entirely through the brick kiln, usually from 4,0 to feet in length, the alining or truing up of the brick, 30 especially that at the top courses closing in the arch, has been extremely difficult. Furthermore, in the employment of certain types of mechanical setters, it is not only important but necessary to have some means 35. to unload the setters, affording a substantially solid resistance for backing off the setter during the unloading.

In developing a collapsible form for thepurpose above explained, I have devised a novel, simple, and efficient apparatus capable of repeated and continuous use and suitable to the position at any point on the kiln ground forthe setting of arch, and especially for the determining, alining and establishing of the arch face throughout the sufficient entire width of a kiln and of strength and rigidity to afiordthe resistance necessary for backing off a mechanical setter of the type of my said prior patent.

5 constituting thebrick engaging members on My present collapsible form is portable, ad

1923. Serial No. 630;136,

suitable sets of wheels, the entire frame being of any desired lengtln preferably onehalfthe Width of the kiln, so that a form maybe fitted inrfrom either side of the arch to be built. When so positioned, the engaging devices are set to automatically space,

aline and determine the kiln face of the brick archto be built. For this purpose also I provide novel andeflicient means to adjust and to hold the brick engaging devices atany width and heightwithin a considerable range-for the setting of the arch. It will be appreciated that brick to be set in a kiln are of constantly and continually varying size, because of varying conditions in manufacture, drying and shrinkage. The condition of the weather has a large and importantbearing in the process of brick manufacture. Also, brick made at different locations are of difierent desired dimensions.

My apparatus is designed to take care of all 7 these inequalities and difficulties, and to be instantly and automatically ready for such varying dimensions in the 'brick both in height-and width of arch,1 as well'as in the thicknessof the several courses. -T11is is of thegreatest importance in the upper courses or jets when closingin the arch. ;Im-

portantobjects, therefore, are to provide a collapsible form suitable to remain within the arch until it is entirely completed, which will true up and'aline both sides of the arch,

which will particularly predetermine and support the jets or overhanging bricks when closing in. the arch and yet which will be instantly collapsible andprovide' clearance simultaneously both downwardly and inwardlywhen it is desired to' withdrawthe form. Brick when built into a kiln is, of course, soft or greenbrick, and the lower benches from which the arches are made, are constantly subject to compression 'and settling.

'tled'a'nd in their permanent position; Thereupon my improved form'canbe collapsed,

and withdrawn and used in quentza-rches.;;. 1

Being capable ofcontinuous use onlya few collapsible forms are necessary for the building of an entire kiln .of ,50 arches. By using my form it is practicalto set softer brick than would otherwise be-capable of standing up in the lower benches and arches setting subseof the kiln, which is an important practical advantage in kiln. building.

In setting a kiln by means of my apparatus, the entire arch through its length, width, and height, as well as the entire kiln,

' are thus automatically alined and spaced andof much greater uniformity, than other jwise, thus aiding the burning operation,

rendering the same more uniform and varying d sarrangements of successive arches is entirely eliminated.

My present collapsible form contains.

means which will withdraw a brick engag ing device after the arch is completed or the kiln set and settled, or when the lower benches and arches have received the normal weight of the upper portions of the kiln, by a simultaneous contracting movement both inwardly and downwardly. It will be realized that it is of great importance to get such a form outof the arches without injury to the soft green brick and part cularly without damage to the over- I hanging corners and brick projecting into the top of the arch. For this purpose I profrom both the face of one brick and the bottom of the next superimposed brick, thus lar direction.

collapsing the form in a diagonal or angu- This movement may be effected in any desired manner, but as herein shown I prefer to employ a single operating wheel which will extend lengthwise 0f the form. will engage toggle members or the like at a plurality of points carrying the side bats, and so connect the operating wheel the entire form freed from contact with that the entire upper arch of the form will be lowered simultaneously with the inward movement of the side bars, thus effecting the; collapsing action both inwardly and downwardly and giving immediate clearance to all face of the green brick previously in'contact with the form. Furthermore this collapsing action is effected and the arch on both sides as well as the top,

while theapparatus still standsin its norrnal position within the arch and before it is started for'movement out of the arch.

Once collapsed it is readily withdrawn on its wheels and repositioned at another point in the kiln,-'or in a subsequent kiln, for use.

The brick engaging devices are expanded to the position desired and the arch set.

I believe that my invention of a suitable k and practicable form forms in setting the arches of a kiln, especially for setting such arches by means of mechanical brick setters, is a distinct novelty in this art, and I intend herein to claim such forms broadly and particularly a collapsible form, it having heretofore been theuniversal custom to set kilns without employing any form whatever in the arches. My invention provides a positive, definite, mechanical means to aline, support, and as a guide for the auilding of the kiln, particularly in setting the lower benches and this is an important advantage in the process of brick manufacture. Y

, Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side view of my collapsible form with parts broken away to better illustrate same; i

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the opening of an arch, showing the form in expanded position, in contact with the brick;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 illustrating the form in collapsed position and ready to be withdrawn from the arch:

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. i;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 66 of Fig. 3; r

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6, illustrating the form collapsed:

I Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 88 of Fig. 3, and I Fig. 9 is'a corresponding view to Fig. 8 illustrating the form collapsed.

Referring to the drawings, my collapsible arch form, as therein shown and illustrated, may be of any suitable width for the width of arch or kiln in which it is to be used, preferably such forms being moved into the position on the kiln floor, from each end of the arch to be built, while the form is in collapsed or contracted condition. The length, therefore, is variable, but will ordinarily be approximately twenty-five feet. An arch frame is mounted on pairs of wheels, 1 and 2, adjacent each end of the frame, an axle 3 extending therethrough.

The I *The'se pairs of wheels, however, are not f gear 41 keye'dto a vertical shaft 44, extendwhichlsurfaces are concentric with the axis" mounted directly upon the axle, but are each formed mam large centrally eccentric -hub 5 bearing upon frame '6 having corresponding eccentric hubs 7' and 8 for the wheels 1' and 2respectively, this bearing member 6 being bored to snugly fit the axle f 3, asclearly shown in Fig. 3. "A covering plate 9 is provided to hold the wheels and bearings -in assembled positioma cotter pin 10 being fittedthrough theaxle to retain the same in position.

secured thereto, centrally thereof, af gear wheel 12 and on each side of said gear are formed bearing surfaces 13, 13,the gear 12 being secured between shoulders 14, 14.1 These bearing surfaces 13, 13, constitute thesupportingmeans' for the entire framework at each endof the arch'or wherever the pair of wheels are positioned tov carry -the framework, and the entire framework, 'to be described, rests upon these. surfaces 13, 13, ateach side offthe' gear wheel 12,

of the axle On these concentric bearings the lower framework 20. having tworound bearings 21, 21, areprovided to rest thereon, the frame being heldin place by contact p are secured slats 70,. 71, 72, 73,74, 75, and 76,at each sideythe slats and '71 being" mounted" on and carried from the with theshoulders 14, '14. This arrangement is such that a partial rotation. of the member through the 'eccen'tric'bearing of the hubs- Sand 9 in the wheels 1 and 2 respectively,

will eifect a bodily raising 'or lowering of the entire framework supported and carried 7 by thebase 20; Secured to the name-20 is a plate22 having'a pair of uprights 24 and 25, andunited at the, top as shown at '26.;

Extending longitudinally from the frame 20 is a braceor plate '30 to the next adjacent pair of wheelsand base member, 20, a top-' plate 31 similarly extending longitudinally of the form. Thus a light, strong frame-' work is provided mounted on pairs of wheels and adapted to be easily moved aboutthe kiln floor and intoan out from an arch,

said frame carrying the collapsiblemembers to be n'owdescribed. I prefer to mount these collapsible or contracting members to slide .-50I' inwardly "onthis frame to secure the bodily movement toward andfrom the sides of the brick in each face of thearch, and to effect the raising and lowering of the entire frame through the eccentric bearings of the supshaft 33, to which a wheel 34 is secured through its hub 35, and a pin 36, which shaft runs longitudinally and centrally of the apparatus. This shaft may 'havebearings at a plurality of points and wherever an upright framework such as 24 and 25 are built,

cross members 37 and 38 bolted to the uprights and affording a bearing for the shaft 33. Secured to this shaft is a gear wheel The member 6 has closing feature to' be secured In a single 40 adapted to meslrwith a corresponding ing downwardly to the gear 12 on the memher 6, where the shaft 44'carries a worm 45,

arranged to mesh with said gear 12. To afford-bearings for this construction and to protectthe gears from dirt, dust, etc, Iprefe'r'to form th'ebase member20 with an eX -tension 46,=witha cap 47 for the lower part, belted together at 48 through lugs 49,

Consequently, rotating of the rotates the shaft 33 which will casting.

wheel 34 move theside bars inwardly or outwardlyto be explainedand simultaneously raises or lowers the entire framewor through the rotation of the eccentric hubs.

Secured to the uprights 24and 25, are pairs-of brackets 50,51, 52, 53, 54, and F55, eachformed with an upstanding dovetailed groove to (zonstitute'fixed bearings for the correspondingly undercut grooved slides 60, 61, 62, .63, 64,- a'nd 65. -The brackets-5O to 155 extend transversely so that the slides 60fto '65 move'thereon transversely of'the apparatus. To these sliding'members'60 to sameslide 60; through a depending rod-69 at" each side' In order to operate these slides backwardly and forwardly upon the bracket members I utilize pivoted: s'links' (see Figs; 3 and 5') These linksare substantially alike and in each instance comprise a member 80 pivoted to a bolt 81 which is carried by the sliding portions '61,

62, 63, or 64. The "linkseiztend inwardly, where-they are pivoted at 84, 84, 84, 84, to a movable frame 85, said framehaving a threaded hub 86 through which the threaded po'rtion 87 of the shaft 33 passes at twoor more pointsthroughout the length of the apparatus. This frame is formed with flanges '89, "and may s'lide on the lower central members 30, and between side ribs 189 on the topmost' members 31 see Fig.

A limited sliding movement is"allgthatis required'of this frame 85 in order to carry the I pairs of links either forwardly or backwardly" past their extreme perpendioular position to collap'se the same and slide the slats 7 O to 76 inclusive on each side inwardly, thus collapsing the frame. It will be seen that this arrangement of the slidingframe 85, to which are pivoted the links actuating the right angled slides 61 to 65, enables'these right angled slides and the brick contacting slats carried thereby to be moved inwardly and outwardly, freely and simultaneously, without binding" and with a minimum of eifort,as'wellfas maxi- 7 inum' of speed. Furthermore, when desiring" The effect of this arrangement will to expand the frame, the advantages of. a toggle motion are secured, as the shaft 33 is manipulated, to move'thelinks to their position perpendicular with the frame 85, as said frame isv slid longitudinally of the apparatus. It will be understQQd that the links are shorterfor the topmost members, where the arch is narrower, but the mode of operation and actuation is the same. As shown in "Figs. 6 and 7, .for example, the links at this point near the top of the arch, 90, 90,-a1'e pivoted to the same stud .91 carried on the sliding frame 85, and in order to secure a substantially uniform actuation onthese shorter links as that obtained. on the longer links 80 (see Figs. 8 and 9), when moving from collapsed position to expanded and from expanded to collapsed, I provide a sufficient leeway or dwell by forming the inner ends of the links 90 as they encircle the bolt 91 witha slightly elongated slot, as illustrated at 92, Figs. 6 and e readily understood and enables the completely expansible, or completelycontracted position of the topmost frames 7 5 and 76, within the narrow confines of the closed in portion of thearch, to attain the limit of their respective inner and outer-movements at substantially the same time as the lower and longer. links 80, a similar proportional amount vof leeway being provided for the slat carrying members 64, intermediate top and lower links.

In the building of an arch, for a brick kilnor for other purposesmy improved apparatus would ordinarily be left in collapsed position, in which state it would have been removed from a previously built arch and positioned next the last bench or stack of brick, diagrammatically indicated at 100, and the links expanded. Thereupon the next bench 101, usually seven brick high, would be set, by a mechanical setter, or built by hand. Preferably my apparatus is intended for use with mechanical setters,

the

as above explained, and in certain typesof setters it is necessary to have the collapsible frame of suflicient rigidity to constitute a proper resistance of backing off wall to enable the setter to discharge its load of brick, alsoas above explained. Thereupon the upper courses of brick would be pulled (see Fig. 3), the first course above the arch, 102, extending over and resting upon the lower slot member 73, while contacting with the upper slot member 74. This, my improved arch form has guiding and supporting means, on which to close in the arch, build the same evenly, from each side, constituting an alining, supporting and guiding apparatus for the entire arch building operation throughout the width of the kiln and length of the arch. Furthermore,

such members support the inner edges of the .cl iag in misse at bri k unt l e-upper tiers 0 st ck of. br k e piled anith ntir arch nd iln is set ledan i Pe manen-t formation. The succeeding courses, 103, is similarly set, only resting on the lower slat member 7a and abuttingagainst the next upper member 75, while the superimpose c r 104 re s up n heslat m m h nd a ut ns the pm s a 76. To provide an additional guideabove the slat member 7 6, Iprefer to make the upper slides 55, 55, with a project-ing flange 106, to still further guidethe top courses 107, 107, of the arch, in position and alinement, as shown. c

In the operation of the apparatus after the arch has been built, and the kiln prop erly settled, the operator then rotates the wheel 34 to move the sliding frames ,85, of which thereare two or more throughout the length of the apparatus, thusbreak-ing the toggles effected by the link members, moving the respective-slides inwardly upon their bracket guides and -w-ithdrawing the slats equally, simultaneously and instantly from the faces of the arch. As the rotation of the wheel 34 similarly actuates the entire frame to lower it, through the shiftingof the eccentric bearings. in the supporting wheels, the upper sets of slats 7 3, 74, 7 5 and 76 arewithdrawn from the "corners of the closed in part of the arch, diagonally, thus freeing the entire brick contacting devices instantly, simultaneously, and without danger of marring the corners, edges, or

other portions of the green'brick. The apparatus in collapsed position is illustrated in Fig. 4 and is then easily rolledout of the arch on its pairsof wheels, beinguready to be positioned at any place in the kiln shed for thebuilding of another arch, as above -p n d- Q. n; u t er-m re, he appa tus .c b a is for ny idth and he h ofiars des ed and e r ck .e taet g m mbe 0 to 76 Will e hel introsi er s i term d the ul e p s o f he ggl .1 i.-n. and contraction thereof, by the friction-of the threaded shaft 33, and the hubs 86, thus still further rendering the apparatus useful and -universally adjustable.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. Apparatus of the kind described, consisting in a form for setting arches in a brick kiln, having brick engaging andali-ning means for both sides and top ,of the a c in cmbii z qn W t mean .t W draw the brick engaging members before the form is removed from the arch, said withdrawing means simultaneously drawing inwardly and downwardly the brick vengaging members.

- Ppamtu- .Q hek nd dsrib etswmrri s n a ch fe ns for u e in ttin arches in brick-kilns, having brick engaging i said members toward and from the walls of the brick arch. j

3. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising an arch form for use in setting arches in brick kilns, having brick engaging and alining members and means to adjust said members toward and from the walls and; overhanging top courses of the brick arch.

4. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a form for use in setting the arches in a brick kiln, having a plurality of spaced brick engaging members extending longitudinally, in combination with means to adjust said brick engaging members inwardly or outwardly and to hold the same where thus adjusted.

5. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a form for use in setting the arches in a brick kiln, having a plurality of spaced brick engaging members extending longitudinally, in combination with means to expand said brick engaging members outwardly and upwardly.

, 6. Apparatus'of the kind described, comprising a form for use in setting the arches in a brick kiln, having a plurality of spaced brick engaging members extending longitu-dinally, in combination with means to expand said brick engaging members outwardly and upwardly, and to collapse them inwardly and downwardly simultaneously.

7. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a portable apparatus for use in setting arches in a brick kiln, consisting in a framework mounted upon a plurality of wheels, means on said framework to carry, at a plurality of points, brick engaging members, slidable supports carrying said brick engaging members and adapted for sliding movement transversely of the apparatus, in combination with a shaft and connecting links, to slide said supports inwardly and outwardly.

8. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a portable apparatus for use in setting arches in a brick kiln, comprising a framework mounted upon a plurality of wheels, means on said framework to carry, at a plurality of points, brick engaging members, slidable supports carrying said brick engaging members and adapted for sliding movement transversely of the apparatus, in combination with a shaft and con necting links, to slide said supports inwardly and outwardly, and to raise and lower the entire framework relatively with the supporting wheel.

9. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a portable form adapted for setting the courses of brick in the'arch of a brick kiln at different levels and spacing, having a plurality of brick engaging slat-like members on each side, certain ofsaid members being differently spaced from the others,

and means to move all 'of saidmembers outwardly in expanded condition or inwardly in collapsed condition at the same operation.

10. Apparatus of the kind described, comprisin'ga portable form adapted for setting the courses of brick in the arch of a brick kiln at different levels and spacing, having a plurality of brick engaging slat-like members on each side, certain of said members being differently spaced from the others, and means to move all of said members out wardly in expanded condition or inwardly in collapsed condition at the same operation, and completing the limit of the outward or inward movement at the same time.

11. Apparatus-of the kind described, comprising a' portable framework, a plurality of pairs of wheels supporting said framework, an eccentric bearing member between said framework and wheels, whereby rotative movement of the member will effect a raising and lowering of the framework relatively with the ground and brick engaging devices carried by said frame, whereby movement of the eccentric member to eflect a lowering of the frame withdraws the brick engaging members from contact with the brick. a

12. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a portable framework, brick engaging and aligning members arranged at each side of said framework predetermined brick engaging members being adapted to constitute a support for the brick in the courses closing over the arch.

13. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a portable framework, brick engaging and alining members arranged at each side of said framework, sliding supports for said members, links to move the members on said supports, an eccentric mounting between the frame and its wheels, and means to operate the links, to, slide said supports and actuate the eccentric mounting to raise or lower the frame simultaneously.

14. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a collapsible and adjustable form for setting arches in a brick kiln, means to expand and contract the brick engaging portions of the form, and means to hold the said form in positions intermediate the extreme expanded and collapsed positions.

' 15. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a collapsible and adjustable form for setting arches in a brick kiln, means to expand and contract the brick engaging portions of the form, and automatic meansto hold the said form in positions intermediate the extreme expanded and collapsed posiexpend and contract the brick engaging por; tionsfof the form, and'automa'tic means to hold the sziid form in positions intermediate the extreme expanded a'nd collapsed positions; said automatic means comprising a Worm and gearconnection from the adjustingfdevices to the expanding and collapsing members adapted to withstand compression on the brick engaging members intermediate the range ofadjustability.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GRAFTON E. LUCE. 

